Author Topic: Universal Serial Interface for Amstrad CPC (a.k.a USIfAC) (Read 25785 times)

ComSoft6128 · « **Reply #100 on:** 12:22, 12 March 19 »

Thank you.
I will try it out this weekend.

GUNHED · « **Reply #101 on:** 17:51, 12 March 19 »

Connecting a CPC with a CPC using a 3-wire cable works very well. I got my new wires and soldered them together, and the Terminal program works very well. I used:

Tx --- Rx
Rx --- Tx
GND - GND

Next step: Make a CPC network out of them.

ikonsgr · « **Reply #102 on:** 23:22, 12 March 19 »

GUNHED, you can also use bluetooth modules instead of direct cables, that way, you can have amstrads in a distance up to 10 meters apart!
For Amstrad LAN, you should use wifi modules, and better try it first using a router as access point (where all wifi modules should connect to), and if all goes well, then you could try to use one of wifi modules as access point to create a completely "Amstrad only" lan network!
I'm still waiting for a couple of wifi modules i've ordered to make some tests my self...

GUNHED · « **Reply #103 on:** 23:47, 12 March 19 »

Well, I tried it, with two HC-06 modules (without button). But they don't communicate. I'm probably the most inexperienced Bluetooth user ever.

In case I enter in one of the terminal windows: AT+ROLE=1 nothing happens. I do a reset of the CPC and start terminal again. Nothing happens. Sorry, I still seem to forget something.

Maybe it's because they are both HC-06?

ikonsgr · « **Reply #104 on:** 23:55, 12 March 19 »

BT modules without button, can't enter in administration mode easily, in order to give AT commands (i think there is a way ,by holding ENABLE pin to ground or something like that) , so you can't change either role or speed.

GUNHED · « **Reply #105 on:** 00:00, 13 March 19 »

Ok then I get one HC-05 for one CPC and can use the other HC-06 for the other CPC, right?

ikonsgr · « **Reply #106 on:** 00:03, 13 March 19 »

Yes,i suppose you could do that, but they will only be able to communicate at default speed which is 9600bps.

GUNHED · « **Reply #107 on:** 00:04, 13 March 19 »

Ok, I'll get _some_ HC-05.

ikonsgr · « **Reply #108 on:** 17:36, 23 March 19 »

MAJOR UPDATE!

driect2_scr.png
(69.01 kB, 800x553 - viewed 595 times)

- Finally,a dsk image function is added to the utility program! It supports data/system format images and with quite fast speeds: ~55seconds to write a 180kb dsk image to an unformmated disk, or ~40seconds to an already amstrad formatted disk (@460800bps)!

- MAJOR update of user guide: new sections with detailed instructions and help photos for each function were added, along with an active table of contents for easy guide, as manual has become 20+pages!

- Add an extra button <Caps Lock> on Amstrad CPC2PC program,to select/unselect all the files at once! This is useful, if you want to transfer all files of the disk, or if you want to “invert” the already selected files (e.g. all selected files will be unselected, and all other, will be selected).

- Fix a bug which prevented the enumeration of serial ports in Windows vista/7 32bit

- Added a "rescan" button for rescanning serial ports after application is started (in order to avoid close/reopen of application for serial port acknowledge)

ikonsgr · « **Reply #109 on:** 15:49, 24 March 19 »

Added ~20 more games in direct load games list (games that are tested and verified that work ok with direct load function):
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/hzp3a4b7fktcn8c/AAAj2U8otKw26j-chnd8uUxla?dl=0

GUNHED · « **Reply #110 on:** 18:25, 11 April 19 »

Just a question for completeness. The USIfAC I guess works with 8N1. Is it possible to change, Parity, Bits/Byte, Stop-Bits ... ?

LambdaMikel · « **Reply #111 on:** 17:34, 12 April 19 »

Good question.

Any somebody please try the MP3 module test with USIfAC as well (if nobody volounteers, I will try at some point). It worked well with LambdaSpeak 3's serial port.

GUNHED · « **Reply #112 on:** 17:43, 15 April 19 »

You could connect to LS3 serial port? Did you use 8N1?

LambdaMikel · « **Reply #113 on:** 18:55, 15 April 19 »

Quote from: GUNHED on 17:43, 15 April 19

You could connect to LS3 serial port? Did you use 8N1?

Yes, 9600 8N1. You can see how to send play / volume / stop commands in the video I posted.
I can also share the DSK.

ACtually, the latest LS30.DSK should already have "mp3.bas". I guess it should be easy to adjust for USIfAC.

LambdaMikel · « **Reply #114 on:** 19:05, 15 April 19 »

Hmm, does not allow to upload DSK... here are screenshots for the MP3.bas

EDIT: note that you only need to send ONE 255... it just because 255 needs to be escaped in LambdaSpeak serial interface.

ikonsgr · « **Reply #115 on:** 13:40, 22 April 19 »

Quote from: GUNHED on 18:25, 11 April 19

Just a question for completeness. The USIfAC I guess works with 8N1. Is it possible to change, Parity, Bits/Byte, Stop-Bits ... ?

These are not supported by the hardware serial interface on PIC 16F1579.

LambdaMikel · « **Reply #116 on:** 17:17, 22 April 19 »

Quote from: ikonsgr on 13:40, 22 April 19

These are not supported by the hardware serial interface on PIC 16F1579.

I guess these modi are mostly for exotic and devices of historical interest anyhow... never had anything else than 8N1 anyhow. @GUNHED do you know of any devive that's not using 8N1?

Dandare · « **Reply #117 on:** 02:03, 23 April 19 »

The PIC EUSART supports 9-bit transmission. This bit could be used for data, parity or serve as a second stop bit, but not any two of them at the same time. Calculation of the parity bit should be sent alongside the data byte, by setting TX9D. In the same way, testing for receiving data parity should be done on the RCIF ISR.

Including a second stop bit or even half a stop bit for 1,5 standard value could potentially be done by a timer or delay after the TXIF is set, using the idle status of the line as a stop bit. This is, however, a bit of a stretch of the EUSART.

So, potentially this is what the PIC could do, Note that sometimes the stop bit is done by the hw peripheral itself and sometimes by means of said delay.

9,N,x
8,(Even/Odd),x

But... at the end of the day, almost everything is 8,N,1.

GUNHED · « **Reply #118 on:** 02:59, 25 April 19 »

There _were_ lots of other devices than 8N1 back the day, but today I guess I'm pretty fine with having only functions dealing with 8N1.

260Z · « **Reply #119 on:** 13:51, 27 May 19 »

This project sounds awesome

Will send a PM

Cheers,
Rob

Fabrizio Radica · « **Reply #120 on:** 23:10, 10 June 19 »

Hi

I've recently bought this module on ebay

Can i connect, and use (fm player?), this FM Module on CPC? i've already use it on C64.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUan3vibg18
Ciao!

LambdaMikel · « **Reply #121 on:** 00:10, 11 June 19 »

Unlikely. That's I2C, not serial / UART.
You could use it with LambdaSpeak 3 instead of RTC board

This one might do for UART / USIFAC:

https://www.amazon.com/UTP-87-108MHZ-Receiver-Wireless-Microphone/dp/B07FKRML7B/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=stereo+radio+module&qid=1560200987&s=toys-and-games&sr=1-6

Or this one:

https://www.amazon.com/UTP-87-108MHz-Wireless-Microphone-Receiver/dp/B07FKR5GYD/ref=sr_1_20?keywords=stereo+radio+module&qid=1560200987&s=toys-and-games&sr=1-20

Fabrizio Radica · « **Reply #122 on:** 14:23, 11 June 19 »

Quote from: LambdaMikel on 00:10, 11 June 19

Unlikely. That's I2C, not serial / UART.
You could use it with LambdaSpeak 3 instead of RTC board

This one might do for UART / USIFAC:

https://www.amazon.com/UTP-87-108MHZ-Receiver-Wireless-Microphone/dp/B07FKRML7B/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=stereo+radio+module&qid=1560200987&s=toys-and-games&sr=1-6

Or this one:

https://www.amazon.com/UTP-87-108MHz-Wireless-Microphone-Receiver/dp/B07FKR5GYD/ref=sr_1_20?keywords=stereo+radio+module&qid=1560200987&s=toys-and-games&sr=1-20

oh.. can i use USIFAC + LambdaSpeak 3 + Mp3 module?
if yes.. i would like to buy LS3, now (how much costs?)

Sounds great for my LocomotiveBasic Games like this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhCgyKwt6JQ

GUNHED · « **Reply #123 on:** 14:51, 11 June 19 »

Quote from: Fabrizio Radica on 14:23, 11 June 19

oh.. can i use USIFAC + LambdaSpeak 3 + Mp3 module?
if yes.. i would like to buy LS3, now (how much costs?)

Well, here I run a CPC 6128 with USIfAC and LambdaSpeak III very well.

LambdaMikel · « **Reply #124 on:** 20:29, 11 June 19 »

@Fabrizio Radica if you want to buy LS 3 because of the UART Radio, then let's wait a little bit, I also ordered on of these to check them out, so I can give you better support once I got one running.

The prices for LS 3 vary depending on what you want to get - it is configurable. The prices have been posted in the LS 3 thread, please have a look there.

Cheers
Michael

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Author Topic: Universal Serial Interface for Amstrad CPC (a.k.a USIfAC) (Read 25785 times)

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